'Killer nurse' hated seniors, court told

A NSW nurse charged with the murder of two elderly women allegedly had a “dislike and intolerance” for seniors despite working in the aged care industry most of her life.

Megan Haines, 46, is accused of murdering two elderly women by giving them fatal doses of insulin at their Ballina nursing home on May 10.

Marie Darragh, 82, and Isolbella Spencer, 77 died before ambulances had arrived at St Andrew's Village and were allegedly murdered because they made complaints about Haines’s performance.

She also faces one count of common assault after she allegedly tried to give an 88-year old unscheduled medication but the woman woke up.

Haines denied that she resigned and moved to Victoria days after the pair’s death because she was guilty.

She instead said she moved to the coastal town of Seaspray because it was a more affordable place to live.

She was arrested there on Monday and denied bail because the magistrate feared Haines might not turn up to future court dates.

Magistrate Les Mabbutt said she also posed danger to the community but Haines, who represented herself in court, said she needed to tend to her children and had established a family in Australia.

"They aren't used to being separated from me," she told the court.

Prosecutor Vanessa Robichaux told the Central Local Court on Wednesday that Haines had a “dislike and intolerance” for elderly people and that she was desperately trying to arrange passports to flee to her native South Africa with her family.

The chief executive of St Andrew’s Village said the life will be "challenging for residents, families and staff to endure the months ahead with criminal proceedings in the public arena".

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Author: Mitchell Ryan, Approving Editor: Nick Pearson